Anyone over the age of 18 can apply to act as a Deputy. Usually a friend or relative will be the most suitable person to apply, but it is the Court of Protection who has the final say in who can act. In some cases it may not be suitable for a friend or relative to act and the Court will appoint an approved Deputy (“a Panel Deputy”) to act.
You may choose to appoint a solicitor to step in as Deputy and act in their professional capacity. Premier Solicitors not only has a dedicated and experienced Court of Protection Team, but is also home to one of only 59 Court approved Panel Deputies as well as solicitors who act as Professional Deputies.
A Deputy is responsible for taking on the responsibilities of another person and it is important that a Deputy considers this carefully before making an application.
At Premier Solicitors we always recommend that at least two persons should apply to become Deputy to help ease the burden of responsibility.
A Deputy must comply with the Court Order and should always act in the best interests of the incapacitated person. The Deputy is responsible for the finances and bills of the person they are acting for. The Deputy may have to submit an annual account to the Office of the Public Guardian.